The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Polling booths in state yet to come of ramp-age
The National Institute for the Visually Handicapped has ramps installed by the ministry of urban affairs. It was the only polling booth accessible to the visually impaired
Tribune News Service

Escorted by a young girl, NIVH director Anuradha Mohit on her way to cast her vote. A Tribune photograph

Dehradun, May 13
A number of visually challenged voters turned up at the polling booth set up at the National Institute for Visually Handicapped (NIVH). The institute director, Anuradha Mohit, was among the few to cast their vote in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Despite instructions of the Chief Election Commission on seamless connectivity for the physically handicapped, most had to be bodily lifted at most booths.

However, the visually challenged were provided ballot papers in braille and numbers were etched on all EVMs at the polling booths, allowing them to vote in secrecy and freedom.

“I was unable to vote in the 2004 assembly elections, when the braille ballot paper was first introduced. This time it was a novel experience for me,” said Virender Singh, braille short-hand instructor at the NIVH.

But Ajay, who is physically impaired, turned up to cast his vote at the Krishan Nagar polling booth. “I had to be bodily lifted along with my wheel- chair by four persons. I wish there were ramps for us,” he said.

The NIVH campus has ramps installed by the ministry of urban affairs. It was the only polling booth accessible for the visually handicapped.

An evidently pleased Anuradha Mohit said the introduction of braille ballot papers would empower the visually challenged voters.

“ They are likely to emerge as a huge constituency for politicians. At least now they will be wooed by political parties and their issues taken up,” she observed.

The Himachal Pradesh government in consultation with the NIVH and the Regional Centre for the Visually Challenged at Sundernagar had made arrangements for sensitising district election officers on the needs of the visually impaired.

“The Election Commission told the states in unambiguous terms to have ballot papers in braille at all polling booths. Earlier, the visually challenged did not get to casting their vote in secrecy. The cycle of dependency has now ended.

The numerical numbers were pasted adjacent to the party symbols on the EVMs.

Statistics by the NIVH show there are a total of 85,668 visually challenged persons in the state- in the rural area their population is 66,804 and in urban areas it is 18,864.

The NIVH polling booth had over 700 voters.

The State Election Commission said the tentative voting percentage was 55 per cent, an increase of six per cent from the 2004 parliamentary elections. The figure then was 48.74 per cent.

Uttarakhand’s ailing horses topple yatra plans
As many as 14 control rooms have been set up for monitoring horses and mules affected by influenza.The animal husbandry department has set up control rooms at Pashulok in Rishikesh and Rudraprayag
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 13
The Uttarakhand animal husbandry department was taken by surprise this year with mules and horses, that form a key means of transport to reach the shrine of Kedarnath as part of the Char Dham Yatra, suffering from an influenza attack.

Already 20 two mules and horses have died while 3,000 livestock have reportedly taken ill.

Horses, mules and donkeys are important means of transport in the hill areas. Rough estimates show there are more than 25,000 horses in the state. Mules and horses are used extensively for ferrying pilgrims from Gaurikund to Kedarnath.

The department has directed that the yatra proceedings be halted till normalcy is resorted. As many as 14 control rooms have been set up for constant monitoring of the horses and mules in use.

The department has also set up control rooms at Pashulok in Rishikesh and Rudraprayag.

Animal husbandry department’s additional director Dr VP Singh, who has been camping in Gaurikund since the outbreak of the disease.

The affected horses and mules have been segregated from the healthy ones as the first line of action.

A team of over 75 animal husbandry officials have been camping in Gaurikund, that too under adverse weather conditions.

“We have started getting encouraging results. Over 80 per cent of the affected mules and horses have responded to treatment and shown signs of recovery,” Dr VP Singh said.

Taking into account the severity of the situation, the Uttarakhand chief secretary has directed making budgetary provisions from the yatra funds to deal with the disease.

The department admits that it took some time to diagnose the disease but after useful assistance from the National Veterinary Research Centre in Hisar, that lead to diagnosing of influenza, the department has started speedy treatment. The centre at Hisar diagnosed Aequity H3 N8 virus attack on Gaurikund mules and horses.

Assistance from the National Veterinary Research Centre and Pantnagar Veterinary Hospital has come as a big relief.

It is for the first time that the mules and horses have being attacked by influenza.

These mules and horses are important source of livelihood for locals. The suspension of the yatra has led to financial losses for the locals, who are taken aback by the development.

In May 2007, Uttarkhand had seen a similar situation with the spread of “Glander” in horses. The disease was first noticed in Nainital district. Serum samples of these horses were sent to Hisar and “Glander” confirmed in 22 horses.

The disease was spread by a horse brought from the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.

Following the spread of the disease, the state government had then asked for a check on horses coming from neighbouring states.

A large number of horse carts are used in the Terai region bordering Uttar Pradesh.

According to Uttarakhand animal husbandry secretary, the department has taken every possible step to check the spread of the disease in horses, mules and donkeys and the situation is now under control.

Fortunately, this strain of influenza attacking horses and mules cannot be transmitted to humans.

The disease certainly can spread to other animals.

“In case of Glander, a bacterial infection, the afflicted animal starts developing pus from the nostrils and slowly it spreads to the entire body, leading to the death of the animal," informs Dr RP Bahuguna, former senior animal husbandry department official.

A UK-based NGO, Brooks, that has been working on mules and horses affected with such influenza, reached Gaurikund yesterday.

“We are providing medicines to the affected horses and mules and are hopeful of their early recovery,” said Mani Lal Valliyate from Brooks.

Meanwhile, the yatra has been suspended for another day. This has put the pilgrims, especially the old and feeble, to much discomfort,